This is a question I get asked a lot "how do I get rid of the fine 'fluffy' hair on my face?!" This hair has been called so many different names; 'Fluffy hair', 'downy hair on the sides', 'peach fuzz', 'bum fluff!'
The real name for this hair is vellus hair. Soft, downy, baby hair. This hair is there to protect us from the environmental factors of life. But nowadays with selfies and HD pictures. It seems like everyone has been noticing the hairs around the sides of the face a little more. And with darker hair ladies the lip hair can look a little shady.
I have been asked to remove the fine hair with laser/IPL, which as a majority of this fine hair is blonde. That is not possible (white, blonde and grey cannot be treated with laser/IPL). This method is really good for the coarse hairs of the face, legs and underarms, not so much for fine hair.
Electrolysis has also been a method people have tried. As we are treating the hairs individually, by going into each hair follicle and destroying it. This method will work well to treat the hair. Yet, with between 120 and 150 hairs per square centimetre. Electrolysis will take quite a while to treat, a few years, and from that, it can become quite costly.
Derma-planing has been more popular over the past few years. It was very popular with celebrities for a few decades, as it helps to show a flawless complexion on TV. The celebrities didn't like the look of their makeup with the hair on their faces. So they had it removed by derma-planing. I used to offer this treatment.
As it is a quick fix to the needs of the client. There are also side effects of this treatment, which is why I stopped. Removing the fine hair and the top layer of skin would create a lovely flawless complexion. And it looked amazing for a special occasion.
But, is it something you could maintain on a regular basis? The hairs on your face are cut close to your skin. Then when it starts to grow back the hair is blunt and feels sharp. This feels like stubble all over your face. Some may like it, but I didn't like the feel of this. Then there is also the concern of removing the top layer/skin barrier. Without adding anything to protect it. This can lead the skin to be open to any external factors, like bacteria and it has nothing to protect it. This is my personal opinion and the main reason why I don't do the treatment anymore.
What do I use for fine hair removal now? I use a treatment by DMK called the Alkaline Wash. What is the alkaline wash you ask? Well, a chemical peel is where we drop the pH level of the skin, so that the skin hardens and sheds. The alkaline wash is where we increase the pH level, higher than a hair removal cream. It swells the hair shaft as it dissolves the hair. As it enters the hair follicle, it damages and weakens the papilla. This reduces hair growth. This works wonders for the fine hair, but coarse hair is too strong for this treatment. If you have a course of these treatments we can reduce the fine vellus hair, so that it doesn't grow so fast and long. This course of treatments will not be a complete removal, but it will reduce the hair.
A course of 6 treatments is recommended to start with. To help dissolve the hair and these are done within a 3 month period. As it does affect the top layer of the skin too. There are home care products that must be used at the same time. These mimic the skin's barrier function. And helps to protect the skin during the course of treatments. Then once the course is done, you can have a treatment done at any time to keep and maintain the look.
If you want that smooth, clean look all the time. I would recommend every month or two. If you just want to reduce the look of the hair, then every 4-6 months is absolutely fine. Different clients prefer different looks and timings. For someone with dark fine hair, this is the perfect treatment for maintaining the hair. Without the horrible stubble feel. Or for the blonde hair lady with lots of 'peach fuzz' that wants it to look 'not so obvious'. Clients that have PCOS have found this a 'game changer'. Whilst they have electrolysis for the coarse hairs. They have this in between for the long dark never ending fair hairs, that won't go away!
If you want to see how the alkaline wash works and would like to have a patch test.
Please book a DMK Alkaline Wash Consultation here.
To find out more about the treatment, click here.
In today's society, body hair is not seen as something that is desired or wanted. I have seen many people for consultations for hair removal for very fine, downy hair, which is completely normal and natural.
Yet, to some people, it affects their mental well-being and confidence.
This is why I specialise in hair removal; being pale skin with dark hair, I understand the effects it can have on someone. When they feel they can't go out or have to sit in a particular seat so the light doesn't shine on their hair or skin and make it feel or look worse to them.
So you've decided to eliminate some hair you dislike. Now the decision is how to get rid of it.
These are all valid questions, and you will read many pros and cons of all the different removal methods. I have provided this guide for hair removal treatments.
I hope this helps you to decide which is suitable for you and the area of hair you would like to disappear.
To understand hair removal, we first need to understand hair growth.
All hairs have a growth cycle. A growing, transitional, and resting stage.
Depending on the area of the body, the growing stage can last from 1 month (eyebrows) to 6 years (hair on the scalp). When hair is removed from the hair follicle (plucking, waxing), new hair will replace the old.
The only way to stop hair growth is to destroy the hair follicle. The best time to have any treatment to destroy the hair is during the growing stage. This is when the blood is feeding the hair. If this is cut off, the hair will stop or weaken its growth.
Let's discuss the three main, widely used methods of hair removal: Waxing, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)/Laser and Electrolysis.
Waxing has been used for years, first used in ancient Egypt. There are different types of wax;
Cold wax strips (which I think feel a little like Sellotape).
Warm wax, where the wax is roughly 38 degrees and can be applied by a wooden stick or an applicator onto the body in the direction of the hair growth. This is then quickly removed by a paper or cotton strip. The warm wax sticks to the hair and skin to give a gentle exfoliation.
Hot wax, which is at a slightly higher temperature, almost spreads like butter over the area, which then hardens and is then pulled off. Oil is applied to the area before waxing so the wax will stick to the hair and not the skin. This is perfect for intimate areas where the skin is thin and sensitive.
To have waxing done, the hair needs to be a length of around 5mm; this ensures that it can stick to the wax and be ripped out of the hair follicle quickly. This will leave the waxed area feeling silky smooth for around 2-4 weeks when the hair starts growing again. After 4-6 weeks, the area will need waxing again.
All hair types and skin types can be treated with waxing.
This depends on your pain threshold and the area being treated.
More fleshy or sensitive areas can feel more uncomfortable, but some describe it as a big plaster being ripped off. Some people have often described the skin as feeling slightly tingly for a few hours afterwards. Although, the more you have it done, the more you get used to it.
Intense Pulse Light and Laser are also known as Selective Photo-thermolysis, where the wavelength is absorbed into the pigmentation of the hair. They are heating the hair follicle and destroying it without damaging the skin.
This treatment is based on the wavelength, using the hair's pigmentation to absorb the energy from the light to travel down the hair shaft and destroy the hair follicle.
Fair, white, and grey hair have little pigmentation, so IPL/Laser is not recommended for these hair types. Also, Fitzpatrick type 6 (darker skin) with dark hair is not suitable for IPL but is ideal for Laser.
This treatment gradually destroys the hair follicle. Regular treatments are needed, which should be every 4-6 weeks on the face and 6- 8 weeks on the body. This keeps in time with the hair growth patterns. The best time to destroy the hair is during the growing stage. The hair follicle is gradually destroyed with each treatment. So, it is recommended to have up to 12 treatments to ensure success.
Depending on the area, amount of hair, and pain threshold, it can feel uncomfortable. I have heard it described as an elastic band flicking on tskin'sn's surface. However, the skin does not feel sore after treatment. Sometimes, very rarely, the skin can look a little red after.
Electrolysis is where a little probe is inserted into the hair follicle. Then, an electrical current will travel down the probe to cauterise the blood flow to the hair follicle. This can stop the hair from growing or weaken it, and as the best time to get the hair is at the growing stage, it can take several treatments before the hair has completely gone.
This treatment has been around since 1875. So, enough studies prove this permanently destroys the hair follicle. Because of this, it is the only method legally allowed to state it permanently reduces hair growth.
This treatment can take a while, as each hair is treated individually, and larger areas like the legs or back can take much longer than a smaller area like the lip or chin.
What is excellent about Electrolysis is that all hairs and skin types are suitable for this treatment, as each hair is treated individually.
Regular, monthly treatments are recommended, and it is advisable to completely clear the area of all hairs to ensure the area and all hairs are treated.
It can take, on average, 18 months to 2 years (depending on area) to treat an area and remove most of the hairs.
You can read the Frequently asked questions I receive to learn more.
This is very much dependent on your pain threshold. The probe is inserted into the hair follicle following the hair shaft. You should not feel anything as the probe enters the skin; as it is a very small probe.
When the current is switched on, you may feel a heat sensation, and some hairs may feel more uncomfortable than others, as they may be closer to a nerve.
The skin can feel a little tender to the touch after some heat has been applied into the skin, and any redness should subside within 12 hours.
This infographic will tell you which method will work on what hair pigmentation and skin type.
Skin Type 1 is the palest skin with red hair, and Skin Type 6 is the darkest skin with black hair.
These are the different options for hair removal. Which one would I choose?
This depends on several factors:
IPL/Laser or electrolysis is the best method for hair removal, but which one is better?
Ok, so if you came to see me, and you’ve been shaving your face and had strong hair growth, I would suggest an IPL or Laser course initially and then progress onto electrolysis to get the remaining hair.
Why? Most people who have facial hair, want it gone and are often self-conscious and want it gone quickly, They have most likely been plucking or shaving, so there is no hair there at any point.
If I ask someone to grow the hair for even a couple of days, they look at me in shock and horror! IPL/Laser allows you to continue to shave the area and keep the hair short, while we treat it and get rid of the bulk of hair within 6-12 months, after which we have a 70%-95% reduction.
We would then start using electrolysis to get rid of the rest. At this point, there isn’t as much hair there, so you are more comfortable letting a few hairs grow a little longer to be treated with electrolysis and, at the same time, feeling a lot less self-conscious.
However, if you only have a few odd hairs or patches of hairs, then it’s easy to start with electrolysis and stay with electroysis.
IPL/Laser are fantastic for larger areas of the body, as it’s not that uncomfortable and can be very quick.
A rough average back treatment can take 30 minutes, and electrolysis can take 4-8 hours per treatment.
This is also the same as the ‘half leg’ treatment (from just above the knees to the ankles). A treatment will take half an hour with IPL, yet can take 3 to 4 hours with electrolysis.
For me, it makes sense to go with the quicker option, if that is available to you.
I hope this helps you with your decision about hair removal. If you would like some more help or further information. I am available for a free 15 minute discovery call, and we can decide together which option could suit your needs.
When looking into the various options before beginning your new treatment, it can be easy to think that the consultation is just an extra step in the process that you don't need. This is a common misconception that can potentially have a negative impact on your skin rather than an improvement.
You may feel like you are saving yourself some time and money - but that's not true. In fact, you’re more likely to waste time and money by not booking a consultation beforehand. A consultation is a very important part of any treatment, and here are some reasons why!
A consultant will be able to advise you on whether your planned treatment is the best choice for your needs and point you towards some better alternatives if it isn't. Whilst doing this you can properly discuss your needs and you may discover there are treatments you have yet to discover which are more suitable.
Getting an idea of your medical history will be a key goal for your consultant to ensure the treatment that you receive is the healthiest option for your skin. Also, something in your medical history that may seem insignificant to you may actually be a key contributor to some ongoing skin conditions. It also defines your suitability, you may not be able some treatments because of certain medical conditions.
Patch tests are important to establish the best products to use on your skin. They are often used to detect any negative reactions your skin may have such as intolerances and allergies. Having a consultation will ensure that the product or procedure your specialist is going to use is safe and healthy for your skin.
If you are planning on having some long-term treatment done for you skin care needs, then you will end up spending a lot of time with your specialist. In this case, it would be important to work out if you gel with your specialist as this is also an important part of the overall experience. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a room not knowing what to say to someone because you have no common interests!
Getting the consultation will ensure that all of the above issues are fully addressed and the very best possible treatment, product, plan and specialists have been selected for you. You can rest assured that your money is being spent on top quality treatment in the capable hands of your skin care professional.
If you would like to learn more about booking a consultation and our various types of treatments, please contact the skin centre today to discuss. There are a wide range of treatments on offer such as hair removal, blemish removal and a variety of treatments. You can learn more about what we offer on the Treatment List page.
Written by SkinBase
Most hair removal options available to us today have some major downsides. Whether it’s the messiness of hair removal creams, the inefficiency and potential injuries involved in shaving, the inconvenience of waxing or the pain of epilation. Hair removal takes up a lot of our time. IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light is a treatment that permanently reduces unwanted body hair using wavelengths of filtered light. After a course of IPL, you can finally say goodbye to all the hassle of conventional hair removal – just think of how much time you’ll save!
The filters used in IPL mean it can specifically target the hair follicles within the skin, it’s impressive spot size makes it an industry leader in terms of speed and effectiveness for permanent hair reduction.
IPL uses special cut-off filters to target the hair follicles in the skin with pulses of specific light wavelengths. The energy from this light is converted to heat within the skin, causing controlled damage to the hair follicles. This makes the hair fall out and inhibits the growth of further hair in the follicle, which means that by the time your course of treatments is over, your skin will be smooth and virtually hair-free. Unlike waxing, there’s no recovery from redness to worry about either.
As with all permanent hair reduction, you may still get some regrowth, and hormonal changes can cause hair to regrow too. Any hair you do have will be much softer and far less noticeable than the hair that you used to have. You will require a course of treatments for best results, your therapist will be able to work with you to establish how many treatments you need to stay fuzz-free. IPL can be used all over the body including the legs, upper lip, back, arms, chin, bikini line and underarms.
Convenience is the ultimate benefit of IPL. No other hair procedure can beat it – a few sessions of IPL and you no longer have to worry about booking a wax at the exact right time before your holiday or missing a patch when you’re shaving in the shower. You’ll also never have to worry about potential shaving accidents, or the pain from epilation either! If you suffer from shave rash or have sensitive skin that doesn’t react well to wax or hair removal creams, IPL is definitely the choice for you, as IPL will help prevent ingrown hairs.
If you’re worried about pain, you’ll be glad to know that SkinBase IPL is pain-free. The sensation of IPL is best described as a warm, tingling feeling, which makes it a much more comfortable option than waxing or electrolysis. SkinBase IPL also utilises a special cryo-handset to cool the skin before treatment for ultimate comfort.
IPL hair removal is available here in Midsomer Norton. Contact Kay Cooper for a consultation now.
IPL hair removal before and after
Even though electrolysis hair removal has been around since 1875. There are still many questions surrounding electrolysis and it is still unknown to many people.
During the consultations, I conduct there are a few questions that keep popping up. I thought I would write them out, so others can read and have an understanding of what electrolysis is and how it can help.
Electrolysis hair removal is a technique where a probe is inserted into the hair follicle and an electrical current, either an alternating current (high frequency), direct current (galvanic) or both is then sent through the probe and will cauterise the blood flow to the hair. This will either weaken or destroy the hair.
Electrolysis permanently destroys the growth cells of the hair follicle, preventing hairs from growing back.
Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal that is recognised as a permanent reduction by government officials and FDA. It is also the preferred method for transgender pre-operations.
This question is most regularly asked and there is no one specific answer. This can depend on the individual needs and medical background. Anyone with a few hairs on their chin, treatments will not take long. However, someone requiring their bikini line will take a lot longer. Anyone with a hormone imbalance may have more hair and need more time at more frequent intervals, as a posed to someone who hasn’t.
The initial treatments will need to at regular intervals to ensure that the hairs are treated in the growing stage, and help the treatment to be effective faster. I personally recommend that clients initially have treatments either weekly or fortnightly, depending on how many are there. Then to gage the hair growth rate from there and as the hairs gradually reduce so will the treatments.
Will the hair come back? No, the hair that has been electrolysed properly will have had the blood cauterised at the root, so it is not possible for it to come back.
However, there are 20-80 hairs in a square centimetre. Some hairs may look the same but may very well be different.
This question has many factors to it. First, this depends on your sensitivity, do you have a low pain threshold or high? Also, the area can be more sensitive, under your nose, can be uncomfortable.
The best description of the sensation is a heating of the skin at the point of the needle and sometimes can feel hotter than others. I have many clients that have found electrolysis ‘relaxing’ and have almost fallen asleep. Though I wouldn’t describe everyone’s experience like this.
I hope these questions help you to understand the treatment and will help you decide whether you feel electrolysis is suitable for you.
If you are still undecided and would like more information, please email or call me to arrange a consultation, where we can discuss a tailored plan for any of your requirements.
So you finally pluck up the courage to ring a local salon and book a bikini wax. But when you do the lady on the other end asks you ‘which one?’ You panic and say normal one but really have no clue what different types there are! I have had many clients ask how many different types of bikini waxing for one area is there?! Well, let me help you.
First is your standard bikini wax. Where your normal underwear is kept on and the therapist will wax whatever hair is outside of the knicker line on the front and inside the thigh. This is for the more natural shape bikini.
The next one is a high leg bikini wax. Which you will be expected to hold the sides of your underwear up to your hip to wax whatever is outside of the knickers then. This is great for going on holiday and wearing high leg swimsuits. This one is also known as the ‘French’ wax. The top is also taken off, for more of a tidy up.
Brazilian wax is the most popular wax. This will leave a ‘landing strip’ on the front about two inches wide and two inches high. From front to underneath (labia) will leave 2 inches of hair. And then wax around the back (bum)
And the last type of waxing available is the Hollywood. This is where no hair is left on the bikini area and all hair removed on the labia. All the hair around the backside is waxed off too.
Now the next question I get asked is, what are the different waxes you’re using? Well for the bikini area I use two different types of wax for the standard and high leg I use a warm wax. Which is applied with a spatula and removed with a strip of paper or it can be a cotton wax strip, as the wax can remove hair and dead skin this can be applied to any area of the body. However, for more sensitive areas the preferred wax is the hot wax as this is applied with a spatula and then hardens up and removed on its own. Oil is applied to the area before the wax is applied therefore the wax cannot remove the skin, so areas with thin skin are not damaged or bruised in any way.
I hope this helps to understand the intimate waxing and the diagram should help with what to expect your bikini area to look like after your
requested wax. If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.
